On-iam, ISU women’s golf both in first-place heading into final round

Mike Randleman

Led by a career-best performance through two rounds, Sasikarn On-iam and the No. 25 ISU women’s golf team are both in first place at the Hurricane Invitational.

Led by On-iam’s consecutive rounds of two-under-par 69, the Cyclones followed up a 284 total in round one with a 285 in the second round on March 4.

Iowa State stands three shots clear of No. 18 Northwestern heading into the final round on March 5. On-iam is one shot ahead of Middle Tennessee’s Avery George.

Aided by a string of five birdies on her back nine March 4, On-iam tied for low round of the day. She is in position to improve on her career-best finish when she tied for fourth-place at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in 2011.

Junior Chonlada Chayanun also shot under-par in round two. Chayanun carded a one-under-par total of 70 to improve on her first round total of 73, good for a tie for eighth-place individually.

Chayanun shot three-under-par in her first seven holes Tuesday before cooling off, posting four bogies and two birdies in her next eleven holes.

Senior Prima Thammaraks also posted a qualifying score in round two with a round of 73. She has finished in the top 25 in the first two tournaments this season and is currently tied for 13th place.

Cajsa Persson posted the fourth qualifying score for Iowa State in round two with a two-over-par total of 74. The sophomore is in a tie for 21st place.

Iowa State and Northwestern are the only teams to have four starters inside the top-25.

The team’s fifth starter, freshman Carmen Vidau, posted a nine-over-par total of 80 in the second round, though only the top four scores in each round are considered for team scoring.

With a 153 total, Vidau is in a tie for 56th-place.

Freshman Pimrawee Huang is also competing as an individual. She posted rounds of 90 and 82 in rounds one and two, good for 95th place.

The tournament’s field consists of 18 teams and 96 players.

On-iam leads the field with 14 birdies.

Iowa State’s last team victory came in September 2012 at the Dick McGuire/Branch Law Firm Invitational.

The last ISU women’s golfer to earn medalist honors was Victoria Stefansen. Stefansen earned co-medalist honors in November 2008 at the Challenger at Wolfdancer tournament.